Latest Offenders Essex

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A man who "preyed" on a 13-year-old girl's "vulnerability" before grooming and sexually abusing her has been jailed.

Scott Watson, of Town Square, Basildon, first met the victim outside a shop in Peterborough, on January 25 last year and they began talking.

The 27-year-old asked her age to which she told him she was 13. Cambridgeshire Police say he then began to compliment her body and the two exchanged phone numbers.

They met up again later that day and after this, Watson began communicating with her through Snapchat, WhatsApp and text messages and made numerous requests to meet him and perform sexual acts on each other.

The force says he also asked the victim to send him explicit photos.

In their messages, Watson made it clear he knew she was 13.

They once again met up on April 19 and visited several locations where Watson gave her alcohol and cannabis as well as another substance which made her unconscious.

Watson also asked her to have sex with him to which she refused.

On March 9, at Cambridge Crown Court, Watson was jailed for three years and four months, having admitted meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual communication with a child and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Watson was also given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign the Sex Offender’s Register.

DS Rebecca Welberry said: “Scott Watson shamefully preyed on the victim’s vulnerability to groom and abuse her.

“We will always support the strongest possible action for those who abuse children so I am pleased Watson is now behind bars.”

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A 73-year-old man who breached a sexual harm prevention order 12 times in two months has been jailed. 

Anthony Bullett, of Alexandra Road, Harwich, was jailed for 32 months when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, March 17 after he admitted breaching a sexual harm prevention order on 12 occasions between November 28, 2022, and January 12, 2023. 

Detective constable Mark Harrington, investigating, said: “Anthony Bullett moved into the Harwich area in November 2022 and almost straightaway broke the conditions of his SHPO which prevented him from having contact or associating with any female child under the age of 16.

 
“Instead, he attended events where children were present with their parents.

“Thankfully, we have not had any incidents reported to us but we’re grateful to the community who raised concerns so that we could take action and put Bullett before the courts and stop his dangerous and predatory behaviour.

“Safeguarding children continues to be a top priority for us. I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual crime to come forward and report to us.”

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A 'cruel' man who preyed upon a woman during a night out and raped her has been jailed. Rory Miles, 32, was convicted last month of sexually assaulting a woman at an address in Dunmow.

He had assaulted her following a night out in late 2018 before she was able to get away from him and call for help. She was supported by specialist officers from our Adult Sexual Abuse Investigation Team and an investigation into the attack was carried out.

It led to Miles, of Harris Green, Dunmow, being charged with rape. He was found guilty of one of the five charges he faced. Three others will remain on file as no verdict was reached.

At Chelmsford Crown Court today (Monday 27 March), he was sentenced to four years in prison and put on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Jon Nottage said: "Firstly I would like to commend the woman involved in this case for her strength and dignity throughout this process and I hope that this verdict will bring some comfort.

"I would like to also extend my thanks to various agencies, witnesses, along with the womans family and friends who supported her from the moment it was reported. Rory Miles was today convicted for the rape of this woman and sentenced to four years in prison.

"Miles is a cruel man, on the night he preyed on a woman who believed she would be safe in his company. He did not admit his guilt at any point and maintained everything that happened on the night was consensual and instigated by the woman.

"The Jury expertly navigated through the evidence and found him guilty of rape, and today, he now faces his foreseeable future behind bars.

"To anyone out there who has experienced sexual violence of any form, I know that coming forward is a huge and difficult decision with many worries and concerns. I would urge you to come forward and speak to us, we can take things at your own pace and put you in touch with many great agencies that are out there that can offer you additional support."

Support is there for anyone affected by rape and sexual abuse, and no victim or survivor is alone. Synergy Essex provides specialist support for victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse of all ages and all genders across Essex, Thurrock and Southend.

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A survivor of sexual abuse and her mother have described their feelings after a man was jailed for 16 years yesterday.

Ian McCarthy, 42 of Central Avenue, South Ockendon appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Wedneday 8 March where he was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment for non-recent sexual offences against a child.

The victim in this case bravely came to police in 2020, to report that McCarthy had subjected her to multiple sexual assaults between 2015 and 2020.

Following the report, McCarthy is arrested and bought in for interview. He is then charged with numerous sexual offences.

On 23 January this year, he appeared in court where he was found guilty of the following:

• Four counts of sexual assault against a child
• Two counts of digital penetration
• Five counts of rape of a child
• Two counts of Inciting a child by offering money
• One count of sexual activity by touching
• One count of sexual communication

On Wednesday 8 March, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison plus 2 years and 10 months on license. He was also given a life-long Sexual Harm Prevention order.

Speak to your children

Following the sentence, the mother of the victim described how they are both "still processing the result". The victim’s mother said:

“All I want is for anyone reading this to speak with their children and grandchildren and make sure they’re reporting anything which has happened to them.

“I would 100% encourage people to report these offences to the police as they will be listened to.

"The police have been amazing in their approach, and I don’t think we would have got through this as a family without the investigating officer.”

Dignity and courage

Investigating officer in this case, Detective Constable Jeffery Wainman said:

“It’s felt a real honour to investigate this and support the family through this process.
"They have demonstrated a huge amount of dignity and courage to continue pushing on with the investigation despite it taking a large amount of time to get to this point.

“McCarthy didn’t even grant the victim the respect to admit to what he did, putting them through the court process.

“I hope they feel as though they have the justice they deserve. I hope that they can now find closure and flourish as a family again.”

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A drunk man has been jailed after he robbed a 14-year-old boy of £10 and groped a 14-year-old schoolgirl. 

Dean Hughes approached the schoolboy as he was about to enter a shop in Colchester at 1.30pm on May 21 last year and asked him for £5, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

He then took hold of the boy’s wrist and took the £10 note after prising his fingers open.  

When he was arrested later in the afternoon, he had a sandwich and £8 change and appeared to be drunk.

Shortly after the robbery, Hughes walked past a 14-year-old schoolgirl, who was with her younger sister, and grabbed her bottom and squeezed it.

Hughes, 40, of Six Bells Court, Braintree, admitted robbery and sexual assault and in addition to being jailed he was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for seven years.

Nicola May for Hughes said he was horrified when he saw CCTV of him sexually assaulting the schoolgirl.

She said her client had been homeless and had turned to drink at the time of the offences after his relationship had ended.

At court Hughes was jailed for 17 months.

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A DETECTIVE who brought a despicable child rapist to justice has praised the bravery of two victims for giving evidence at his trial.

DC James Fowler, of Essex Polices Child Abuse Investigation Team, said 52-year-old Patrick Wakefield acted in a completely abhorrent way towards two girls.

Wakefield, of Twyford Avenue, Great Wakering, was jailed for 13 years at Basildon Crown Court after being found guilty at trial of a string of child sex offences, including two counts of rape.

The court heard how the predator left his victims badly scarred.

Judge Ian Graham said: You used your interest of photography to get alone time with these girls.

You bought them presents and gave them money to peruse this course of conduct.

The remorse you speak of would have been more open if you had admitted these crimes and saved these girls going through a trial.

Its clear they were left badly scarred by the experiences.

Mitigating, Christopher Martin told the court Wakefield had lived in poverty as a child which has severely impacted his life.

Mr Fowler said: Patrick Wakefield has been rightly jailed for his despicable actions.

"He acted in a completely abhorrent way towards his two victims, including forcing them to give evidence at his trial by denying any wrongdoing.

Patrick Wakefield has been made a registered sex offender and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order preventing him from going near children in the future will go some way to protecting other children."

He added: I want to praise both victims for their courage and bravery in coming forward and reporting their abuse to us, and in having the strength to give evidence at court, playing a part in stopping this man from offending against another child.

They have stood strong throughout the judicial process with the love and support of their families. I would hope that this sentence will play some part in giving their families some form of closure.

They have expressed their sincere thanks and gratitude to us for our hard work and dedication throughout the investigation, and for the support shown to their children.

I would also like to urge other victims of abuse to come forward, to report any concerns and to know that they too will be supported by our specialist teams.

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A PENSIONER who told a child to “shh” while he sexually assaulted them has been put behind bars.

Leslie Cook, 71, assaulted the child in 2020.

Police officers said the offence came to light when the victim disclosed what had happened to their family.

The prosecutor in the case told Chelmsford Crown Court that Cook “tested the water” with his victim before going on to abuse them.

Judge Mary Loram KC said Cook, of St Osyth Road, Little Clacton, groomed the child before launching two sex attacks on the same day.

Cook was jailed for five years, put on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely, and limited by the conditions of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which has been granted for ten years.

Cook had denied sexual assault of a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity but was convicted of the offences by a jury last month.

A life-long restraining order was also put in place against the victim during the sentencing on Friday.

A victim impact statement read to the court on behalf of the child’s mother said they often become tearful while at school.

She said: “I witnessed my once very confident [child], who I would describe as chatty, become very reclusive and scared.”

Judge Loram said Cook “continued to blame” the victim and gave a “petty example” of them lying to try to discredit them.

She added: “You put your fingers over your mouth to indicate to them not to say anything.

“Two times you abused them. If they thought it was over they soon realised it wasn’t.”

Cook’s mitigation said he is “very much a pillar in his community” and maintains he is innocent of any crime.

“I cannot realistically submit there is any alternative to a custodial sentence,” said his barrister.

“A prison sentence will be a real and enduring punishment for him given his age and his health.”

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A man convicted of sexually abusing three children thanks to work by our specialist detectives has been jailed for more than 30 years.

Graham Carson, 68, assaulted the children between 2011 and 2014, telling one of them ‘wish you were 16’ while telling another it would be ‘their secret’.

The offences came to light when they were reported to us in August 2020 and the victims have been supported by specialist officers.

One of the children told our officers that since the assaults they had started to suffer nightmares and experiences trouble sleeping at night.

Carson, of The Drive, Clacton, had denied 18 offences including multiple counts of rape, but was convicted on 30 September following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

At the same court on Thursday 8 December he was sentenced to 32 years in jail, which is made up of an initial 26-year sentence and a six-year extension as he was ruled by the judge to be a “dangerous offender”.

An unimaginable ordeal

Investigating officer Detective Constable Reuben Brame said:

“The three victims in this case have been through an unimaginable ordeal at the hands of Graham Carson and have demonstrated incredible strength in reporting what happened to them.

“The impact of Carson’s abuse cannot be overstated and those affected live with the memory of what’s happened to them every day.

“I am pleased our work has been able put him behind bars and while no sentence will ever undo his crimes, I hope it will help his victims move forward.

“If you have been a victim of a sexual crime, I want you to know that you can come forward and have the confidence that you will be believed, and the offence investigated.

“We have a range of specially trained detectives and staff who investigate sexual offences and support those involved.

“We use new measures to better protect victims and work closely with the CPS to improve the chance of a case going to trial.

“And we work with partners to ensure victims can get ongoing support.

“If you’ve been a victim of a sexual offence, call us.”

No victim or survivor is alone

Support is there for anyone affected by rape and sexual abuse, and no victim or survivor is alone. Synergy Essex provides specialist support for victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse of all ages and all genders across Essex, Thurrock and Southend.

Synergy Essex is a partnership of rape and sexual abuse centres in Essex:

• CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse),
• SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service
• Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis).

Synergy Essex is independent from the police and provides support for victims and survivors throughout their journey.

Victims and survivors can self-refer, or be referred by a parent, partner, friend or professional and can access specialist emotional support, counselling and advocacy.

For victims and survivors who report to the police, Synergy Essex provides an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) service, providing support throughout the criminal justice process.

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A paedophile with a persistent interest in children’s pink underwear has been jailed for 18 months for wanting to have sex with a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

Daniel Turner was snared by a member of Protecting Children Online UK who set up an account on an over 18s internet site in the name of Paige, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Prosecutor Anthony Moore said Turner, 38, contacted ‘Paige’ in October 2017 and went on to send her more than 300 messages, as well as photos of his penis and videos of him masturbating. A meeting in West Yorkshire was suggested, the court heard.

The decoy had told him she was a 14-year-old schoolgirl as soon as he got in touch. 

The court heard that Turner, of Gainsborough Avenue, Tilbury, Essex, told Paige he would be her boyfriend.

When they chatted on WhatsApp, he asked if she wore a skirt and tights to school. He wanted to know the colour of her knickers and bra and made reference to pink underwear. He sent a picture of his penis and said he wanted to have sex with her.

He tried to arrange meetings between them in London and Leeds before ceasing the contact the following month.

Mr Moore said Turner was arrested in 2020, saying he was sorry.

His phone was seized and 45 indecent images of children at Category C were found on it of girls aged ten to 13.

It also disclosed conversations between Turner and a ‘girl aged 12 living in Portugal.’ He asked for sexualised images of her in a skirt and pink knickers.

Later in 2020, there was a conversation with someone saying she was ‘Glasgow mum.’ Photos were sent to him of what she said was a girl aged nine. He said ‘very cute, what else have you got?’ “Has she got any pink knickers?” he asked.

Turner pleaded guilty to two offences of attempting to communicate with a child for sexual purposes; attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act; and making indecent images.

His barrister, Lydia Pearce, said he had no previous convictions.

He had a stable home with his mother and worked nightshifts at Asda.

He was well aware that an immediate sentence of imprisonment was at the forefront of the court’s mind.

Turner pleaded with the court to spare him an immediate jail sentence. They were attempts only with decoys and it was ‘an extreme wakeup call for him.’ Judge Jonathan Rose said Turner was in communication with adults acting as decoys to ‘wheedle out men like you.’ He had sought to have sexual intercourse with young girls and it was deeply disturbing that he had offended in 2017 and then again in 2020.

He had sent what he believed was a girl aged 14 photos and videos of his penis and him masturbating. In 2020, he had a continuing sexual interest in children, one as young as nine. His behaviour was deplorable and he had a repeated interest in pink knickers.

Judge Rose made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years and Turner will register on the sex offender register, also for ten years.

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A dangerous sex offender who groomed a young vulnerable girl has been jailed.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard the harrowing details of how Allan Wilkinson, 77, preyed on the 16-year-old girl when he met her online where she had been looking for a household assistant job.

Despite the teenager suffering from a number of mental health issues, which became apparent to Wilkinson, he groomed her into taking part in sexual acts with him in exchange for money and gifts.

The girl routinely told Wilkinson to stop but he continued his predatory behaviour and also coaxed the vulnerable girl into sending him photographs of a sexual nature.

The court heard Wilkinson knew the girl was just 16 and continued his criminal acts.

Wilkinson of Epping New Road, Buckhurst Hill, pleaded guilty to paying for the sexual services of a child and making indecent photographs of a child.

He was jailed for a total of 30 months on Friday November 25.

Following the sentencing investigating Detective Constable Steven Tilley of Essex Police’s Child Sexual Exploitation said: “I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and courage, demonstrated by the victim in this case.

“Wilkinson preyed on this young girl, sexually grooming her in exchange for money. She had trusted him and he so thoroughly abused that trust.

“I hope the victim can begin the very slow process of piecing her life back together and I cannot praise her enough in coming forward to help us secure justice and take this sexual predator off of our streets.”

Wilkinson was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years. Under the terms of his order he must not: have any contact with girls under the age of 18; possess any computer or device with internet access; and must make any device he does possess available for inspection by a police officer upon request.

Essex Police Child Sexual Exploitation Proactive Investigation Team is dedicated and determined to protect young vulnerable people from being subjected to exploitation. If you would like to report a crime and need help, call 101, submit a report on the website or call 999 in an emergency.

*Support is there for anyone affected by rape and sexual abuse, and no victim or survivor is alone. Synergy Essex provides specialist support for victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse of all ages and all genders across Essex.

Synergy Essex is a partnership of rape and sexual abuse centres in Essex: CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse), SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis).

Synergy Essex is independent from the police and provides support for victims and survivors throughout their journey. Victims and survivors can self-refer, or be referred by a parent, partner, friend or professional and can access specialist emotional support, counselling and advocacy.

For victims and survivors who report to the police, Synergy Essex provides an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) service, providing support throughout the criminal justice process.

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Jason Sweeney, 25 of Chelmsford Avenue, Southend has been sentenced to four years and three months in prison, after demonstrating multiple instances of predatory behaviour and repeatedly breaching a court order placed on him that was secured by Essex Police MOSOVO (Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders).

Sweeney first came to the attention of Essex Police in 2020, when he had caused concerns around his behaviour towards children and vulnerable adults. Essex Police had issued Sweeney with a Child Abduction Notice, an early intervention tool to prevent predatory behaviour from an adult.

Officers had also secured a Sexual Harm Prevention Order on Sweeney and following a routine check on 28 August 2020, he was arrested on suspicion of six counts of breaching this as well as two counts of not complying with his sexual offender notification requirements, which had also been imposed on him. Following his arrest, investigating officers identified evidence of sexual offences which had been committed against children by Sweeney.

He was charged with eight offences relating to the breaches whilst MOSOVO continued to investigate the further offences including engaging in sexual communication with a child and meeting a girl under 16-years following grooming.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight months imprisonment for the breaches. Just two weeks after being released from prison on license in February 2021, Sweeney continued to demonstrate dangerous and predatory behaviour. Essex Police’s MOSOVO conducted a risk assessment and found that Sweeney had come out of prison, and almost immediately began to groom a young female victim. He was arrested again and charged with breaching his sexual harm prevention order. Sweeney was recalled to prison where served the rest of his original sentence and then remained in custody on remand. 

Last Friday (30 September 2022), Sweeney appeared at Basildon Crown Court and was sentenced to four years and three months imprisonment. Sweeney has been subjected to a Sexual Offender Notification for life and issued with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A manipulative sex offender, who targeted a ‘generous, smart and witty’ young girl in a ‘horrendous’ rape, has been sent to prison for 12 years. Adam Campbell, 35, left a "tragic legacy" on the girl, who was younger than 13 at the time of the attack, according to the judge.

An investigation into Campbell began in May 2021, following his arrest, after a young girl was raped in Braintree. Specialist officers from Essex Police supported the victim throughout the investigation.

Detective Constable Eden Quinn from Essex Police described Campbell, of no fixed abode, as a "coercive controller". He said: "I am so pleased with this result. The hard work of the investigation team and the ISVA as well as the strength of the victim has meant that a dangerous man is in jail. 

“Our number one priority throughout these investigations is the victim. As a force, we have invested a lot of time and training into better understanding how to safeguard victims as well as understand the behaviour of sexual offence perpetrators.

“Perpetrators are often coercive controllers, and they will groom and isolate their victims. This is exactly what Campbell did and his manipulating behaviour almost made the victim feel as if they were to blame for the horrendous crimes he committed.

“I hope that the victim finds some peace with this result and is able to move beyond this chapter. Her bravery and strength so far has been incredible, and I have every faith that she will grow into an incredible woman. I will never forget her.

“I also hope that this case may highlight to other survivors of sexual violence or abuse, that there is help available to them and that they are not alone. There is more to police investigations than people may first think and it’s never too late to get support.”

Toni Jones, from the Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service, worked as the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) for the investigation alongside DC Eden.

They said: "In this case, as with many, the survivor of sexual abuse was groomed into a false reality. The offender manipulates them into thinking that this is their world now and this is what they are worth.

"I hope that the victim in this case knows how proud Essex Police and I are of her, and the strength she has demonstrated has been nothing short of admirable. Since she was subjected to this horrendous abuse, this victim has had her childhood stripped away from her and she will never get back those years she had to carry this around with her.

"Spending time with her as reiterated just how the impact of trauma can be everlasting. My wish is for her to travel through life, being the person, she is inside, artistic, generous, smart and witty. This experience of sexual violence does not define her as a person. One day the weight of this will begin to lift and support will always be available to her."

Synergy Essex provides support and guidance for survivors of sexual and sexual abuse across Essex. The Essex Rape Crisis Partnership is formed of three organisations: Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse (mid and north-Essex); Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service (south and west-Essex), SOS Rape Crisis (Southend, Castle Point and Rochford).

Survivors can self-refer and receive emotional support, specialist sexual violence and abuse counselling and or specialist advocacy services, no matter when the sexual violence or abuse occurred. In addition to this, they also offer support to survivor’s loved ones. 

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A FORMER headmaster and parish councillor who drove an express train through his victims childhood has been locked up after sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy.

Keith Tait, 77, a former headteacher at an Essex school, hid behind his standing in society as he repeatedly abused a child.

Following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, he was convicted of five counts of indecent assault.

Tait, of North Mill Place, Halstead, represented the Shelley ward on Ongar Town Council for 36 years from 1977 until 2013 and was involved with various charities.

The abuse was carried out against the teenager in the 1980s.

At the same court, Judge Timothy Walker said the victim had been hitchhiking when he was picked up by a passing Tait.

Your grooming of him began, he said.

His mother expressed concern about the disparity in age between you and him, but was reassured when she discerned you were a teacher.

The court was told Tait gave his victim driving lessons and took him to a caravan in Great Yarmouth, where further abuse was carried out.

Judge Walker said Tait warned the victim if he spoke out about the abuse, he would be in trouble and would be disqualified from driving.

In a written statement read to the court, Taits victim, from Colchester, said he had struggled with writing even the first paragraph and on one occasion was almost physically sick.

He is an evil opportunist who was lucky to find me - a confused, uncertain, emotionally weakened boy, he said.

The court heard Tait had won over the victims mother, damaging their relationship for the rest of her life.

He said Taits silver tongue had charmed her, adding: My greatest regret, and it is one which has never left me, is my failure to bridge the chasm between us.

The victim said he had felt too guilty and disgusted to speak out.

I was a child and children dont think as adults do, he added.

He said Taits ability to manipulate may have been put to better use as a politician or negotiator, but instead he used it to get what he wanted.

Unfortunately what he wanted was me, he said.

He drove an express train through my childhood.

Jennifer Dempster QC, mitigating, said given Taits age and health difficulties, which include arthritis, prison would be a particularly harsh place for him.

She said a lengthy police investigation and, later, court proceedings, had been hanging over him for nine years.

That has brought about, over that extended period, particularly anxious times for him and his wife," she said.

The court heard Tait is the main carer for his unwell wife, with his imprisonment set to have an enormous impact on her.

Judge Walker said Taits abuse had a lifelong impact on his victim, adding: You abused your position within society to facilitate your offending.

He sentenced Tait to six and a half years imprisonment.

He will remain on the sex offender register for life and is banned from working with children.

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A SEX offender told police he was trying to help a 12-year-old boy after he was caught in an undercover sting sending sexually-charged messages to an officer posing as a child.

Deano Lisney, 52, denied he gained any gratification from the sick messages he sent to a person he believed to be a young boy named James.

From October 18 last year, Lisney was in fact sending sexually explicit messages to an undercover officer.

Richard Burrington, prosecuting at Chelmsford Crown Court, said: The defendant was using Instagram and he followed the boy he thought was 12 years old, thats James.

James then essentially followed him back and thats how the pair made contact with each other.

In an opening message to Lisney, the officer indicated the fake boys age.

The defendant replied immediately, said Mr Burrington.

He said he was 51, he introduced himself in terms of where he lived namely the area of Clacton.

Lisney said the boy didnt look 12 judging by his profile picture.

The court heard the conversation unfolded over the course of around two weeks, starting innocuously.

The defendant wheeled it round to matters of a sexual nature fairly swiftly, said Mr Burrington.

Lisney was traced through his social media profile and arrested.

In interview, he confirmed he had a conversation with James and said he recalled his age even adding he was a nice young lad.

But he said he would never have taken it any further and said he was literally just chatting.

Mr Burrington said: In terms of his motivation, he said there was no sexual gratification gained through this conversation he was not sexually aroused by the suggestions he was making of James and in his words the defendant said he thought he was just helping him.

Lisney, of Fletchers Caravan Park, St Osyth, admitted one count of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Steven Levy, mitigating, said his client has no previous convictions and had admitted the charge at the earliest opportunity.

Describing the case as an unusual situation, Mr Levy said: Normally they are paedophile hunter groups who in effect post the profile and undertake to basically lie dormant until someone actually makes contact.

This is actually a police operation in which the defendant has liked the Instagram post, that person has liked them back as I understand how Instagram works and in effect its then the police officer who starts the conversation and the conversation then develops into a sexual [one].

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Former PE teacher Michael Quinlan, of zc, was handed a suspended 22-month sentence for three counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14 and indecent assault on a male person.

He had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The jury found the defendant not guilty of another count of indecent assault on a male.

Quinlan, now 73, has been put on the sex offenders register for life.